High-scoring Maritzburg denied victory by Tuks

Siyabonga Shoyisa of Tuks looks to tackle Thamsanqa Mkhize of Maritzburg Utd during the Absa Premiership match between Maritzburg United and University of Pretoria at Harry Gwala Stadium on December 05, 2014 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images)

Maritzburg United missed the chance to climb to second on the Premiership table after a frustrating goalless draw against University of Pretoria at Harry Gwala Stadium on Friday night.

The Team of Choice, who beat Orlando Pirates 2-0 in Soweto during midweek, instead climbed from fourth to third, but could have done better after dominating the first-half.

AmaTuks improved after the break and had two of the best chances of the game wasted as they climbed to 12th spot.

An energetic start to the encounter should have seen United reduced to

10-men inside the opening three minutes after goalkeeper Virgil Vries

handled the ball outside the penalty area.

The Namibian appeared to deliberately stick out his hand to block the ball on the edge of the box.

Referee Thabo Nkosi only awarded a yellow card and the resulting free-kick was thumped just wide of the left upright by Geoffrey Massa.

The hosts settled down well thereafter with plenty of chances of their own during the opening quarter.

The first of those fell to Mohammed Anas, the double goal hero in the Pirates win.

The targetman though failed to reach a Mondli Cele ball in a dangerous area from the right.

The Ghana striker was again in on goal after cleverly drifting into space

to latch on to countryman Mohammed Awal’s long ball, but after expertly

Anas, who would have had a simple tap-in if the correct cross was played.

After further half-chances for captain Ashley Hartog and Nhlanhla Vilakazi either side of the half-hour, Ntuthuko Mabaso was denied by a brave Siyabonga Shoyisa before the interval after wonderful build-up play by the home attack.

The half-time break appeared to give the visitors some impetuous as they began the second 45 minutes like the first, with their second big chance.

This time it was possibly the biggest opening of the game as Thabo Mosadi’s inviting cross from the right cut open the home as it picked out an unmarked Atusaye Nyondo, who looped over the target.

Moments later winger Mosadi did well to create room for a low 25-yard shot, which was parried wide by Vries.

After the hour, the home side’s best chance fell to Mondli Cele when Mabaso squared a low right-sided cross along the ground to the midfielder, who somehow ballooned over.

With time running out, Tebogo Monyai powered a near-post header wide from a Siyabonga Ngubane corner as the game ended scoreless.

– Sapa

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